Shinhan Bank has opened its first foreigners-focused lounge in Daerim-dong, Seoul, and will provide financial consultations on Sundays. It has created a space that can be used on holidays to meet financial demand in areas with a high concentration of foreign residents.

Shinhan Bank said on Oct. 14 it held an opening ceremony for the "Shinhan SOL Global Lounge Daerim-dong" on the second floor of its Daerim-dong branch in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.

The lounge is the bank's first facility tailored to foreigners. It is connected to the existing business area and set up as a space for financial consultations, rest and communication.

Reflecting the characteristics of Daerim-dong, where foreign residents such as ethnic Koreans from China are concentrated, it will operate on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The bank said it was designed to allow foreign customers who find it difficult to visit on weekdays to receive financial consultations on holidays.

Shinhan Bank plans to use a multipurpose space in the lounge to provide financial education to help foreign customers settle in Korea.

Shinhan Bank currently operates foreigner-focused branches in Ansan, Gimhae and Doksan-dong. In the first half of this year, it expanded dedicated counters for foreigners to handle subscriptions to financial products at its Ansan foreigner-focused branch.

Shinhan Bank CEO Jeong Sang-hyeok (정상혁) said, "We have 마련했다" a space where foreign customers can comfortably receive financial consultations and communicate. He said, "Starting with Daerim-dong, we will expand dedicated lounges to major areas where foreigners live."